Clinton Township renews efforts to dump clerk

Clinton Township Supervisor Bob Cannon has renewed efforts to have the governor’s office remove township Clerk George Fitzgerald from office for allegedly bullying employees and creating a hostile work environment.

At the direction of the township board, Cannon filed a request to Gov. Rick Snyder asking him to force out the embattled clerk, but the governor’s office did not do so, saying township officials had not proved there was misconduct involved in the allegations.

Late last week, Cannon provided additional information to the governor’s office including affidavits from himself and Deputy Clerk Kim Irvine, outlining specific examples of alleged workplace harassment.

“I am trying to protect our employees from further abuse and the taxpayers from spending additional money in defending lawsuits relating to him,” Cannon said Monday.

Michael Gadola, legal counsel to the governor, in August notified Clinton Township that the information they provided concerning the township clerk was insufficient. He also indicated the township had failed to serve the clerk with the accusations so that he could provide a defense.

Cannon said he provided a more detailed package of information, and had Debbie Staller, an assistant, present the charge of removal to Fitzgerald on Oct. 3.

A number of employees in late 2011 wrote to the supervisor complaining about alleged “bullying” behavior by the clerk, a charge that has been confirmed by other elected officials. Since then, there has been a 100 percent turnover of workers in the clerk’s office, with some taking a medical leave of absence.

One worker, Susan Brooks, has filed a federal whistle-blower lawsuit claiming Fitzgerald has created a hostile work environment after she took notice that he was trying to become romantically involved with Irvine.

On Monday, Fitzgerald, a Democrat who faces Republican Kim Meltzer for the clerk’s position in the November election, said the allegations have been stirred up by Cannon as an election-year ploy to unseat him.

“Frankly, it’s the same old stuff from Bob Cannon,” Fitzgerald said. “I am out meeting and greeting voters. A lot of people are telling me ‘Hey, I hear you’re shaking up city hall.’ Others tell me they aren’t interested in any of this.”

With all of the clerk’s workers on medical leave or retired, township officials have been forced to bring in part-time help to conduct the election. Former election workers Marge Rama and Fran Haexebrouck are each being paid $50 an hour to work on the election, Cannon said.

“I am confident we will be able to have a fair election now that they’re back helping us because both women have a world of institutional knowledge,” Cannon said.

Fitzgerald says he is overseeing the election process, coming into the office even on the Columbus Day holiday to tend to details.

“I am here every day making sure we are prepare to stage a major presidential election,” he said.

Meanwhile, Brooks, the clerk who filed the lawsuit, has filed for an extension for leave time, which is due to expire Oct. 18. She has filed a letter to the township board asking for her leave of absence to be extended to Nov. 7 because she still feels threatened by her boss.

The township board is expected to act on the request at Tuesday’s meeting.